Annual Meeting
The next PSO Annual Meeting will be held in Williamsport, PA, Lycoming County at the Holiday Inn Express on September 13-15, 2019.
Registration now open
No Registrations accepted after August 25th
No late or walk in registrations / T-Shirt orders through 8/18
Print Registration Form (Adobe Acrobat - pdf format)
If you had not renewed your membership yet, you can download it here.
Lodging
Holiday Inn Express
90 Pine St.
Williamsport, PA 17701
(877) 410-6667
Ask Specifically for the PSO $99 rate
(Includes Full Breakfast)
Other Hotels (No Special PSO Rate)
Best Western Williamsport Inn, 1840 E 3rd St. Williamsport, PA 17701 (570) 326-1981
Econo Lodge Williamsport, 2019 E. Third St. Williamsport, PA, 17701 (855) 680-3239
Genetti Hotel, 200 W 4th St. Williamsport, PA 17701, (844) 218-0638
Friday September 13
5:00 – 7:00 pm – Registration (Exhibitors will be on hand for you to visit)
6:00 -7:00 pm – Social with Cash Bar
7:00 pm – Business Meeting
7:30 pm – Bird Trivia
Saturday September 14
7:00 am – Depart for Field Trips
Lunch on your own following the field trips
2:00 – 2:45 p.m. “The State of Boreal Birds in Pennsylvania,” presented by Doug Gross, retired from the Pennsylvania Game Commission
2:45 – 3:15 p.m. Break (Opportunity to visit Exhibitors)
3: 15 – 4:00 p.m. “Local and Long Distance Movements of Lesser Black-backed Gulls Wintering in Bucks County,” presented by Dan Brauning, Pennsylvania Game Commission
6:00 – 7:00 pm – Social with Cash Bar, Exhibitor tables will be staffed
7:00 – 8:00 pm – Dinner
8:00 p.m. Awards Presentation
Compilation of Bird List
Banquet Speaker: Dr. David Toews, Penn State University: Investigating Hybrid Warblers
Sunday September 15
7:00 am – Depart for Field Trips
1. Field Trips are limited in the number participants. The limit is set depending on the trip. If you see a trip you like, register early before it fills up!
2. You must be a paid the Annual Meeting Registration Fee or a PSO guest to sign up for a field trip.3. All field trips run both Saturday and Sunday. Please do not sign up for the same trip both days.
Saturday 2019 Trips
1. BEGINNER BIRDING WALK CANFIELD ISLAND: For birders of any experience level who would like to have a slower paced walk. Take a leisurely stroll around Canfield Island to appreciate the fall migration, landscape and the Susquehanna River. Not only are the birds a highlight, but also some local history. Directions: Travel east on I-180/USRt.220 taking exit #23 (“Warrensville”), turning right at traffic light, taking road behind Motel 8 to the Riverfront Park pavilion on the left. Trip leader Saturday - Deb Grove, This is a Saturday only trip. Difficulty: easy.
2. BIRD BANDING WILLIAMSPORT WATER AUTHORITY: Join bird bander Nick Kerlin in the morning as he traps and bands a variety of passerine species moving through the forest and brush at this prime local birding site. For those who have never experienced bird banding (and even those who have), this is not to be missed! Directions: Take Valley St. south from Duboistown for a half mile then turn left onto Mosquito Valley Road, taking it to the end at the Water Authority’s visitor parking lot. Trip Leader-Nick Kerlin. This is a Saturday only trip. Difficulty: easy.
3. GLACIER POOLS PRESERVE: Meet at the Preserve which is located near Picture Rocks. Enjoy the many resident and fall migrant species of birds that take advantage of these woodlands and fields. Trip leader Evan Mann. Difficulty: moderate.
4. MILL STREET MONTOURSVILLE: Meet at the Mill Street yellow gate RR crossing, Montoursville. With plenty of small patches of a variety of habitats there is the possibility of just about any late summer and fall migrants. Wading birds and shorebirds are likely depending on the water levels. Directions: Mill Street is immediately on the right after and east crossing of the green bridge going into Montoursville. Trip leader: Bobby Brown. Difficulty: easy to moderate.
5. MONTOUR PRESERVE: Meet at the Environmental Education Center parking lot. This spectacular piece of land currently managed by the Montour Area Recreation Commission is home to and a stopover for birds in the woods, on the water and in the fields. Directions: Note that the bridge is out on Preserve Road. Thus we’ll want to take Rt. 54 east through Turbotville, then turn left on Rt. 44. Go about two miles to the town of Exchange and turn right on PP&L Farm Road. Go 1.3 miles and turn left onto Preserve Road. Go a half mile, turn left, then right into the parking lot. Trip leader Saturday-Evan Houston, Sunday-Michael David. Difficulty: moderate.
6. RIDER PARK: A high elevation forested area. Migrant warblers and other passerines are likely. A more open area invites the possibility of field birds and sparrows. Directions: Pleasant Valley Rd. north, one mile out of Warrensville to Calebs Run Rd., and then drive all the way to top of mountain to parking lot. Trip leader Saturday-Joe Yoder & Meredith Lombard, Sunday-Annette Mathis. Difficulty: easy to moderate.
7. ROSE VALLEY LAKE: Meet at the south launch of Rose Valley Lake for sighting a wide variety of waterfowl. If you have a spotting scope, bring it. We will also take time to ID land birds along the road. Birders will slowly make their way counter clockwise around the lake, finishing at the North boat launch. This is an easy-walk-and-ride event. Trip leader Vern Gauthier. Difficulty: easy.
8. STATE GAME LAND 252: A prime birding spot that produces a nice variety of migrants. Directions: Travel south Rt. 15 out of South Williamsport over the mountain to first traffic light (Elimsport Rd., Rt. 54). Turn right (west) across county for approx 5miles turning left (south) on Rt. 2004 (Alvira Rd.). Drive about a mile to third parking lot on left in the Game Lands. Consider tick protection and have water resistant foot wear. Trip leader: Saturday - Dan Brauning, Sunday – Andy Keister. Difficulty: moderate.
9. SUSQUEHANNA RIVER WALK, NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES: This is an easy walking event. Directions: Meet on the River Walk on the Williamsport side using the river edge parking lot at the foot of Hepburn St. You will look for waterfowl and enjoy species of raptors like Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Red-tailed Hawks. Birds frequent the brush and trees along the walking path. Trip leader Maddie Dunlap. Difficulty: moderate.
10. WORLD’S END STATE PARK/LOYALSOCK STATE FOREST: Sullivan County. This state park is nested within Loyalsock State Forest (115,000 acres of forest) and positioned astride the scenic Loyalsock Creek, one of the most beautiful wild streams of the state. Many trails and forest roads make remote woods and swamps easily accessible. This includes the 59 mile Loyalsock Trail. A highlight of the area are views from scenic overlooks, particularly High Knob (1800 ft) and World’s End, and waterfalls on several streams. It also includes 3 Wild Areas and 2 Natural Areas as well as old CC Camps. The area is well-known for its many forest interior birds and has potential for raptor migration in the fall. Trip leader: Doug Gross. This is a Saturday only trip. Carpool from the Holiday Inn. Difficulty: moderate.
Sunday 2019 Trips
1. GLACIER POOLS PRESERVE: Meet at the Preserve which is located near Picture Rocks. Enjoy the many resident and fall migrant species of birds that take advantage of these woodlands and fields. Trip leader Evan Mann. Difficulty: moderate. 2. MILL STREET MONTOURSVILLE: Meet at the Mill Street yellow gate RR crossing, Montoursville. With plenty of small patches of a variety of habitats there is the possibility of just about any late summer and fall migrants. Wading birds and shorebirds are likely depending on the water levels. Directions: Mill Street is immediately on the right after and east crossing of the green bridge going into Montoursville. Trip leader: Bobby Brown. Difficulty: easy to moderate.
3. MONTOUR PRESERVE: Meet at the Environmental Education Center parking lot. This spectacular piece of land currently managed by the Montour Area Recreation Commission is home to and a stopover for birds in the woods, on the water and in the fields. Directions: Note that the bridge is out on Preserve Road. Thus we’ll want to take Rt. 54 east through Turbotville, then turn left on Rt. 44. Go about two miles to the town of Exchange and turn right on PP&L Farm Road. Go 1.3 miles and turn left onto Preserve Road. Go a half mile, turn left, then right into the parking lot. Trip leader Saturday-Evan Houston, Sunday-Michael David. Difficulty: moderate.
4. RICKETTS GLEN STATE PARK AND VICINITY: Luzerne, Sullivan, Columbia, Wyoming Counties. This park is designated as a state Important Bird Area because of its extensive forest and area-sensitive forest birds. This is one of the largest state parks and adjacent to the large State Game Lands #13 and #57 on North Mountain. Most of the park and SGLS are forested with some old growth in the Glens Natural Area. Lake Jean, Splashdam Pond, the Meadows, and other swamps bring more diversity to the mix. Many trails make birding deep in the woods easily accessible. You can get remote fast. The park is especially famous for its Falls Trail and numerous waterfalls, but also including some boreal forest and blueberry meadows and sphagnum bogs. In fall, some of the best birding is around the ghost village of Ricketts in SGL 13, the Hayfields (a blueberry meadow), and wet thickets. Old railroad grades and building foundations bring some human history to any visit. Host Doug Gross is conducting a survey of the park area with the intent of producing an annotated checklist and viewer guide. Birders are invited to visit and make contributions. This is a Sunday only trip designed for those leaving the meeting for home. Carpool from the Holiday Inn. Trip Leader: Doug Gross. Difficulty: moderate.
5. RIDER PARK: A high elevation forested area. Migrant warblers and other passerines are likely. A more open area invites the possibility of field birds and sparrows. Directions: Pleasant Valley Rd. north, one mile out of Warrensville to Calebs Run Rd., and then drive all the way to top of mountain to parking lot. Trip leader Saturday-Joe Yoder & Meredith Lombard, Sunday-Annette Mathis. Difficulty: easy to moderate.
6. ROSE VALLEY LAKE: Meet at the south launch of Rose Valley Lake for sighting a wide variety of waterfowl. If you have a spotting scope, bring it. We will also take time to ID land birds along the road. Birders will slowly make their way counter clockwise around the lake, finishing at the North boat launch. This is an easy-walk-and-ride event. Trip leader Vern Gauthier. Difficulty: easy.
7. STATE GAME LAND 252: A prime birding spot that produces a nice variety of migrants. Directions: Travel south Rt. 15 out of South Williamsport over the mountain to first traffic light (Elimsport Rd., Rt. 54). Turn right (west) across county for approx 5miles turning left (south) on Rt. 2004 (Alvira Rd.). Drive about a mile to third parking lot on left in the Game Lands. Consider tick protection and have water resistant foot wear. Trip leader: Saturday - Dan Brauning, Sunday – Andy Keister. Difficulty: moderate.
8. SUSQUEHANNA RIVER WALK, NORTH AND SOUTH SIDES: This is an easy walking event. Directions: Meet on the River Walk on the Williamsport side using the river edge parking lot at the foot of Hepburn St. You will look for waterfowl and enjoy species of raptors like Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Red-tailed Hawks. Birds frequent the brush and trees along the walking path. Trip leader Maddie Dunlap. Difficulty: easy.
9. WILLIAMSPORT WATER AUTHORITY, MOSQUITO VALLEY: Forested trails with plenty of brushy habitat as passerine migration starts to ramp up. Directions: Take Valley St. south from Duboistown for a half mile then turn left onto Mosquito Valley Road, taking it all the way to the end meeting birders at the Water Authority’s visitor parking lot. Trip leader Sunday - Joe Gyekis . This is a Sunday only trip. Difficulty: easy to moderate.
The following is a partial list of the bird clubs, conservation organizations, and birding businesses that will have tables set up at our meeting location. They will be there to meet you, get acquainted, and offer information and products of interest to the Pennsylvania birding community.
Exhibitor registration is still open, so check back over the next few weeks as the list of participants will be growing.
Sheree Daugherty, amazing nature and wildlife artist will be offering paintings on canvas, panel and driftwood, and hand-painted ornaments
Juniata Valley Audubon Society has partnered with Lenca Farms in Honduras who are growing their coffee in a bird habitat-sustainable way. Their shade grown, organic coffee will be for sale as well as free, hot tastings
Lost Creek Shoe Shop will be displaying the latest in binoculars, spotting scopes, and tripods
Lycoming Audubon Society will be displaying bird replicas, offering brochures and educational materials, and showing photos covering their fifty years of environmental advocacy.
Aidan Place will tell the story of the Champions of the Flyway and their work to conserve the birds migrating between Europe and Africa each year
Seven Mountains Audubon offers many opportunities for regional birders to join, support, and activities in which to participate
Snyder’s Nursery at the Feed Mill, Montoursville, PA will be selling Aspen Song Wild Bird Food and re-purposed bird food bags
Tiadaghton Audubon Society will be sharing information on the many birding opportunities in Tioga County. What species have been reported at The Muck IBA? Find out at their table.
T-Shirts! We have t-shirts once again, the profits of which goes to help support the Youth Scholarships.
Each year, the PSO provides funds to pay for a young birder to attend the Annual Meeting.
Young birders can be nominated by submitting this application.